Review by Booklist Review
McMyne's debut is a reinvention of the Rapunzel fairy tale, a luscious origin story from the witch's point of view. The setting is twelfth-century Germany, when belief in the paternalistic Christian God is in ascendance and the female practitioners of the "old ways" have gone into hiding to escape persecution for witchcraft. In a time when anyone who is different is suspect, Haelewise, daughter of Hedda, suffers from poor eyesight, headaches, and occasional fainting spells. She is accepted by the people of her village only because her mother is the local midwife and forswore the old ways when she married. When Hedda dies and her father abandons her, Haelewise must find another place to live and she seeks out someone her mother used to know: a wise woman who lives in a tower in the deep woods. McMyne melds folklore with actual historical figures and cleverly bookends the narrative with opening and closing chapters set in the twenty-first century, when an American linguistic scholar arrives in Germany after being called to translate a well-preserved medieval manuscript discovered in the cellar of an old forest cottage. Offer this to fans of The Mermaid, by Christina Henry (2018) and Lucy Holland's Sistersong (2021).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
McMyne's shimmering debut gives a fresh, exciting backstory to one of the most famous villains in fairy tale lore: the witch who put Rapunzel in her tower. Haelewise daughter-of-Hedda has been plagued by mysterious fainting spells for as long as she can remember. Her mother, a midwife, warns her never to travel alone and keeps her entertained at home through fairy tales. After her mother falls ill and dies, however, Haelewise dares to venture out into the mist-filled woods, seeking more knowledge of her mother's ancestry, beliefs, and the magic she so often spoke of. Haelewise discovers a sacred place from her mother's stories, a tower called Gothel, where a wise woman offers her shelter. As Haelewise learns more about the world and her place in it--partly through another young woman, Rika, who also seeks refuge at the tower--she forges her own history, reframing traditional understandings of witches: "I built proverbs in my head.... Blessed is the snow that hides my path. Blessed is the lie that saves a life. Blessed is the woman who helps her kind." The result is a sprawling epic, full of magic, love, and heartbreak. Fans of Circe and The Wolf and the Woodsman will devour this taut, empowering fairy tale. Agent: Sam B. Farkas, Jill Grinberg Literary. (July)
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Review by Library Journal Review
With her unsettling black eyes and mysterious fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village. Her only comfort comes from her mother's tales of witches, wolves, spells, and other magical things. When her mother dies, she finds refuge in a place named Gothel, where she is taught by a wise old woman and meets Rika, who knows truths the Church has tried to hide. What Haelewise learns will forever change the way the world views her. This debut novel by poetry chapbook author McMyne (Wolf Skin) blends history, fact, and fable to create a brilliant new addition to the genre of remixing fairy tales. Narrator Vanessa Johansson gives a strong performance, effectively giving voice to Haelewise, Rika, and the others who populate this realm. Johansson's interpretation of Haelewise stands out, lending power to a character who is strong in her convictions, stands for what is right, and is not afraid to question the status quo. VERDICT McMyne's interweaving of Hildegarde, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel is unique and well done. Fans of Spinning Silver, The Wolf and the Woodsman, Malice, and other fairy tale retellings will enjoy this.--Elyssa Everling
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